The Wilmingtonian., 1887-04-02
cHIcAGo's NEW hoBLEMAN.
Tho Delight of the City Over the Knight
ing of Mr.. Pullman.

Tho Delight of the City Over the Knight
ing of Mr.. Pullman.
Never since the great fire of 1871 has Chi
cago society been so profoundly agitated US 1t
was yesterday when it became noised about
that King Humbert of Italy had created our
esteemed fellow townsman, Col. George nj.
Pullman, knight of the first wafer. At first
grave doubts as to the genuineneSs OF the re-
port were indulged, but when later in the day
1t became known that the rumor was credited
at the headquarters of the Italian legation,
the joy Of the public burst all restraints and
manifested itself In every variety of ebulli-
ton.
Col. Pullman Is, we believe, the first citizen
OF Chicago who has been honored in so dis
tinguished a manner by royalty. 1t Is true
that the shah of Persia craved the boon of
investing the Hon. Frederick II. Winston
with the order Of the Yellow Dromedary, but
the negotiations fell through al soon as the
eminent American diplomat declined to adj
vance the shah the 10000 golden pistoles
which his serene majesty expected as an evil
dence Of Mr.. Winstons good faith in the
premises.
In spite Of these facts which we hive stated
1t is true that Mr.. Pullman is the first citizen
Of Chicago to be recognized and honored by
crowned head of Europe. AS near as we can
come to it, Mr.. Pullmaus elevation to knight
hood was brought about in this wise: Last
year he made u tour through Italy, and when
he reached Naples he called upon King Hum
bert ond made formal complaint touching
the railroad facilities with which his majesty's
kingdom is and always has been cursed. His
majesty was struck at once with the learning,
the eloquence, the earnestness, the sang froid
and the suaviter in modo Of the petitioner,
and he besought him to suggest an improve
ment, II ho could, upon the system Of travel
then in vogue, Thereupon Mr.. Pullman
caused to be made by the Herculaneum and
Pompeii Manufacturing company Qimited)
palace sleeping coach, which he pre-
sented to King Humbert, with his COM
pliments, demanding no recompense for
the distinguished gift further than the
privilege Of appointing and controlling the
porters for sIid car. The grateful potentate
readily granted this request, for he was
charmed, positively delighted with the luxur-
ious innovation introduced by the enterpris-
ing American. For the next six months
King Humbert did nothing but travel around; /;
the chances are that he would be travelling
still if he had not been compelled to suspend
operations until after the senate voted him
another appropriation. At the end of the six
months the king found himself out OF pocket
about 100000 lires, and about this time Mr.
Pullman's porter In Naples, one Glacomo
Fiozzo, began buying corner lots and
erecting ten story apartment buildings on the
principal Neapolitan thoroughfares. Kings,
however, are liberal folk, and well can they
afford to be, even when dealing with Chi
cago business man. So when King Humbert
fell to thinking of all the pleasures mot to
say benefits, he had derived from his six
months experience in Mr.. Pullman's coach,
he paid not even the tribute of a passing
thought to the financial outlay involved, but
| rather set his wits TO work at inventing some
means whereby he might further distinguish
the gentleman whom he viewed in the light
OF benefactor. The result Is this elevation
| of Mr.. Pullman from the ranks of the hoi
polloi to the dignity and the title of "a mar
cheese. which in the italian tongue corresponds
to the knighthood of Great Britain, the boo
vars of Russia and the fiambustules of Siam.